Partition supporting bracket



Oct. 17, 1939. P. H. MEYER PARTITION SUPPORTING BRACKET Filed June 29, 1938 INVENTOR P/f/EEE H. MEYER BY ATTORNEY Patented oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to shelf, counter or wall displays and particularly to the provision of means for-supporting panels in different positions of adjustment forming partitions on a shelf or counterdisplay or shelves in a wall display; and the-object of the invention is to provide a panel supporting means involving two similar or substantially similar devices each having wall portions arrangeable in close proximity to each other to form a channel to receive a partition strip or shelf with means on each device for securing the same to a predetermined support, and further to provide devices having means for adjustably mounted the same in connection with anapertured support; a further object being to provide a panel supporting means comprising two similar or substantially similar devices each formed from a single sheet of material fashioned to form a substantially L-shaped element and to employ a pair of said devices in opposed relationship spaced to receive a panel therebetween; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, efiicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of myimprovement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

- Fig. 1 is-a sectional side elevation of my supporting means, indicating in dotted lines the position of a panel relative thereto. ixFig; 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig.-1 showing a panel in position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one element of my device detached; and,

450 1 "Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of supporting means.

- To illustrate one use of my device, I have shown acounter or shelf Ill having an elongated channel II in which is arranged a channeled strip I2 having apertures I3 at regularly spaced intervals longitudinally thereof. The strip I2 may be secured in the channel II by any suitable means. The upper surface I2a of the strip I2 in the construction shown is arranged slightly below the upper surface of the counter or shelf I0.

Arranged on the channeled strip I2, I have shown-my panel supporting means as comprising two similarly shaped members or devices I4 having base portions I5 and panel engaging portions I6 arranged at desired angles with respect to each other. In the construction shown in the drawing,

the panel engaging portions I6 are arranged at angles of slightly more than 90 to the base portions I5. The base portions I5 have downwardly extending side edges I'I forming channels adapted to straddle the channeled strip I2 as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Between the downwardly extending edges ll of the portions I5 are spaced tongues I8 projecting downwardly and in a direction away from the panel engaging portions I5. The tongues I8 in the construction shown are formed from the material of the elements I4 by stamping out sections of the portions I5 leaving apertures I9 therein; and it will be apparent that the spacing of the tongues I8 corresponds to the spacing of predetermined apertures I3 in the channeled strip I2. The curved contour of the projecting tongues I8, which is clearly apparent in Fig. l of the drawing, provides for resilient wedge-like engagement between the tongues I8 and the mounting strip I2 insuring positive support of the member I 4 thereon while at the same time allowing for slight irregularities in said members or mounting strip.

In mounting a partition or shelf panel by my improved means, the tongues I8 of the elements I4 are first inserted in adjacent pairs of apertures I3 in the channeled strip I2 as clearly seen in Fig. 1. The panel 20 is then inserted between the panel engaging portions I6 of the elements I4. It will be noted that the upper ends I6 of the portions I6 are slightly curved or flared outwardly to permit the insertion of the panel 20; and it will further be noted that the elements I4 when arranged in adjacent pairs of apertures I3 are disposed in such spaced relation that the upper ends of the portion I6 will tightly or firmly engage the panel 20 with the portion I6 under tension. At the same time, slight clearance is provided at the base of the portion I6 as seen at 2| in Fig. 1 of the drawing to allow for the slight variation in the thickness of material used in the panel 20.

It will be noted that each element I4 is stamped from a single sheet of material and that in stamping the downwardly projecting edges I? of the portion I5, the width of the portion I5 is slightly reduced as clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3. By forming the sheet of material having the portion I6 integrally joining the portion I5 throughout the irregular contour thereof, the resulting element becomes very rigid. There is, however, sufficient spring in the material of the portion I 6 so that when it is arranged at an angle of slightly more than 90 to the portion I5 as previously described, the portion l6 may be flexed to substantially the 90 or perpendicular position. Thus when a pair of elements M are mounted as shown in Fig. 1, the portions 16 form very effective spring clamps for retaining the panel Zill firmly in position. It will be apparent that the insertion of the panel 2! securely locks the elements I4 to the strip l2 preventing removal of the elements therefrom as long as the panel is in position therebetween.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have shown a modified form of my supporting means adapted to support a panel Zfia at a predetermined angle to an inclined counter or shalf I Ila having a mounting strip [to arranged in a channel Ha therein. The supporting means comprises members Ha, l 42;, having mounting portions 15a, [5b, and panel engaging portions Eda, I611. The members Ma, I421, have projections ita, 58b, in the mounting portions 50., liib thereof adapted to engage apertures lSa in the mounting strip l21a, and the said members are otherwise similar to the members it except for the angular arrangement of the mounting and panel engaging portions thereof. The angles 22a, 221), formed between the mounting and panel engaging portions of the members Ma, Mb, respectively, are substantially complementary angles, 22a being an obtuse angle and 221) being an acute angle. Each of these angles, however, will be slightly greater than the complement of the opposing angle to provide for the resilient engaging of the panel 29a between the portions 56a, Nib.

While for purposes of illustration I have shown in the drawing two angular arrangements of a panel 26, 2i3a with respect to a supporting surface if), lfia, it will be understood that my supporting means may be used to support a partition or shelf panel arranged at any desired angle to a predetermined supporting surface. The; length and width of the panel may be varied depending upon the desired use thereof and may be composed of glass, wood, fibre, or other material generally used in counter or shelf displays. The panel engaging portions of my supporting means may be varied in width or length to render said means more effective in supporting panels of various sizes and shapes. It will further be apparent that while the device is designed primarily for supporting a panel when the elements Hi are arranged in adjacent pairs of apertures in the mounting strip IE, it is likewise adapted by arranging the elements 84 in spaced pairs of apertures to be used in supporting wider rails or platforms in position on a counter or other surface.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A means for supporting panels of the class described for use in counter and wall displays, said means comprising a pair of similar elements an elongated strip of channel cross sectional form having transverse apertures arranged longitudlnally thereof for mounting said elements, each element comprising a mounting portion and a panel engaging portion arranged at an angle thereto, and said mounting portion being channeled to conform to the contour of said strip and having longitudinally spaced projecting tongues co-operating with the apertures of said mounting strip to retain the element against displacement and against movement in one direction thereon.

2. A panel supporting means of the class described comprising a pair of similar elements and a mounting strip for said elements having apertures arranged longitudinally thereof, each of said elements comprising a mounting portion having projecting tongues registering with spaced apertures in said mounting strip, a panel engaging portion arranged at an angle to said mounting portion, the angle formed between the mounting and panel engaging portions of oneelement being slightly greater than the complement of the angle formed between said portions of the other element, and the angles formed between the mounting and panel engaging portions of said elements being equal whereby a panel supported therebetween will be disposed at right angles to the supporting surface.

3. A panel supporting means of the class described comprising a pair of similar elements and a mounting strip for said elements having apertures arranged longitudinally thereof, each of said elements comprising a mounting portion having projecting tongues registering with spaced apertures in said mounting strip, a panel engag ing portion arranged at an angle to said mounting portion, the angle formed between the mounting and panel engaging portions of one element being slightly greater than the complement of the angle formed between said portions of the other ele-. ment, and said elements being arranged in opposed relationship on said mounting strip with the panel engaging portions thereof spaced to receive a panel therebetween.

4. A panel supporting means of the class described comprising a pair of similar elements and a mounting strip for said elements having apertures arranged longitudinally thereof, each of said elements comprising a mounting portion having projecting tongues registering with spaced aper tures in said mounting strip, a panel engaging portion arranged at an angle to said mounting portion, the angle formed between the mounting and panel engaging portions of one element being slightly greater than the complement of the angle formed between said portions of the other element, the mounting portions of said elements being rigid and the panel engaging portions being resilient throughout the length thereof, and said eiements being arranged in opposed relation on said mounting strip spaced to resiliently engage a panel therebetween.

5. A panel supporting means of the class described comprising a pair of similar elements and a mounting strip for said elements having apertures arranged longitudinally thereof, each of said elements comprising a mounting portion having projecting tongues registering withspaced apertures in said mounting strip, a panel engaging portion arranged at an angle to said mounting portion, the angle formed between the mounting and panel engaging portions of one element being slightly greater than the complement of the angle formed between said portions of the other element, the mounting portions of said elements being rigid and the panel engaging portions being resilient throughout the length thereof, said .ele-

ents being arranged in opposed relation on said mounting strip spaced to resiliently engage a panel therebetween, the projecting tongues in the mounting portions of said elements being curved downwardly and in a direction away from the, panel engaging portions thereof and forming wedge-like members securely engaging said mounting strip when a panel is arranged between said elements.

6. A supporting means for disposing a panel at.

having an apertured mounting strip arranged thereon, said means comprising a pair of similar elements each having angularly disposed mounting portions and panel engaging portions, the angle formed between said portions of one element being slightly greater than the complement of the angle formed between said portions of the other element, projecting tongues in the mounting portions of said elements extending downwardly and in a direction away from the panel engaging portions thereof, said elements being secured to said mounting strip by said projecting tongues registering with spaced apertures therein, and the panel engaging portions of said elements being arranged in opposed relation to each other spaced to receive a panel therebetween.

7. A device of the character described comprising an L-shaped body of sheet material, one end portion of said body having longitudinally spaced projecting hook members forming means for attaching said end portion to a suitable support, and the other end portion of said body comprising a resilient plate member arranged at an angle of substantially 90 to said first named end portion and projecting therefrom in a direction opposite to the projection of said hook members from said first named end portion.

8. As an article of manufacture adapted for use in retaining a panel in connection with a mounting member, a supporting element comprising a mounting portion and a resilient plate-like panel engaging portion at one end thereof arranged at a predetermined angle thereto, means for detachably securing the mounting portion of said element to said mounting member, and said last named means comprising hook-shaped projections extending toward the opposed end of said element and adapted to be slidably urged into close engagement with said mounting member when a panel is supported by said element.

9. A panel positioning and retaining means comprising a support, a pair of similar panel engaging elements, each element comprising a substantially L-shaped body having a mounting end portion and an angularly extending panel engag ing portion, said mounting end portion having spaced coupling elements for engaging said support in retaining the elements in connection therewith, and means on said support whereby two of said elements may be arranged in juxtaposition to form a panel receiving passage between the adjacent panel engaging portions thereof.

PIERRE H. MEYER. 

